Growing Cities: A Film About Urban Farming in America

Urban farms each have their own identity, their own feel and methodology. But the one thing they have in common is idealism, and the sense that our cities can be so much more than they currently are. They can be centers of growth and nourishment, rather than lot after lot of stores or, in some cases, nothingness.

In the documentary "Growing Cities," two friends travel across the country to interview leaders in urban agriculture and learn more about how cities are being revitalized by urban farming.

The cross country trip includes visits to urban farms in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Seattle, and Detroit, among others.

The film was inspired by the filmmakers' hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. It's been touted as one of the fastest-growing cities in America, but signs that the city is becoming less healthy as it grows are everywhere, including rising obesity rates and higher rates of unemployment. This juxtaposition of rising growth and a lowering of quality of life raised a question for filmmakers Dan Susman and Andrew Monbouquette: "If growing bigger isn't making our cities healthier and more vibrant places to live, then what kind of growth will?"

And with that, they started looking at urban farming as an antidote to what is ailing our cities. You can check out a clip from "Growing Cities" here: